Business & Investment

Overview

The purpose of business visas is to allow individuals to own and manage a business, invest in Australia, or undertake entrepreneurial activities. These visas are intended for those who seek to establish business operations and contribute to the growth of the Australian economy. A business visa can be a direct pathway to permanent residency or can serve as a stepping-stone towards obtaining a permanent residency visa. To apply for most business and investor visas, a state nomination is required. Additionally, there are specialized visas available for foreign nationals who wish to set up businesses in regional, rural, or low-growth areas of Australia. These visas work in tandem with various economic initiatives established by state and territory governments. Please refer to the information below for further details regarding business and investor visas.

SC 188 – Business Innovation and investment Visa (Provisional)

This visa permits you to manage and own a business, engage in business and investment activities, or pursue entrepreneurial endeavors within Australia. Typically, you would require a nomination from a State or Territory government agency or Austrade, along with an invitation to apply for the visa. In order to receive an invitation, you would have to submit an Expression of Interest. This visa is composed of the following streams:

Business Innovation Stream

If you possess business skills and wish to operate a new or existing business in Australia, the provisional visa may be suitable for you. It allows you to do so for a period of five years and may lead to the opportunity to apply for a permanent visa in the future. To be eligible for this visa, you must receive a nomination from an Australian State or Territory government agency and receive an invitation to apply.

You will need to provide evidence of your business success, such as annual turnover and ownership interest, and show that you and/or your partner hold a total net worth of at least AUD1.25 million (if invited on or after 1 July 2021) or AUD800,000 (if invited before 1 July 2021). Additionally, you must be under 55 years of age, score a minimum of 65 points on the points test, meet the minimum functional English language proficiency requirement, and meet the health and character requirements. The processing time for this visa may take anywhere from 15 to 34 months, and there is an application fee of AUD 6,270 It’s essential to comply with condition 8515 while under this visa.

Investor Stream

If you’re interested in investing in Australia, the provisional visa may be the right fit for you. It requires a minimum investment of AUD 2.5 million in an Australian State or Territory, allowing you to carry out investment activities for five years. If eligible, you may apply for a permanent visa later. To obtain this visa, you must receive a nomination from an Australian State or Territory government agency to invest AUD 2.5 million (if invited on or after 1 July 2021) or AUD 1.5 million (if invited before 1 July 2021) that meets specific requirements. You must also demonstrate net business, investment, and personal assets of at least AUD 2.5 million.

Additionally, you must be under 55 years of age, score a minimum of 65 points on the points test, meet the minimum functional English language proficiency requirement, and meet the health and character requirements. The processing time for this visa may range from 23 to 38 months, and there is an application fee of AUD 6,270. It’s important to comply with condition 8515 while under this visa.

Significant Investor Stream

The provisional visa is available to individuals who are capable of investing a minimum of AUD 5 million in Australian investments that meet specific requirements and maintain investment activity in Australia. This visa allows you to carry out investment activities in Australia for five years and may lead to the opportunity to apply for a permanent visa in the future. To obtain this visa, you must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency to invest AUD 5 million that meets certain requirements and have a genuine intention to hold that investment for the life of your provisional visa.

You must also meet the minimum functional English language proficiency requirement and the health and character requirement. The processing time for this visa may range from 7 to 24 months, and there is an application fee of AUD 9,195.

It’s essential to comply with conditions 8515 and 8557 while under this visa.

Business Innovations Extension Stream

The provisional visa enables individuals holding a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Business Innovation stream to prolong their stay in Australia.

Significant investor Extension Stream

The provisional visa allows individuals who hold a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) in the Significant Investor stream to extend their stay in Australia for an additional four years.

Premium Investor Stream

The provisional visa is designed for individuals nominated by Austrade who are willing to invest at least AUD 15 million in Australian investments and/or philanthropic contributions. This visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to four years and three months, with the possibility of applying for a permanent visa in the future.

To obtain this visa, you must be nominated by Austrade and invest AUD 15 million that meets specific requirements. Additionally, you must meet the minimum functional English language proficiency requirement and the health and character requirements. The processing time for this visa is currently unavailable, and there is a visa application fee of AUD 9,455.

It’s important to comply with conditions 8515 and 8557 while under this visa.

Entrepreneur Stream

This provisional visa is designed for entrepreneurs in the start-up and early stages who have received endorsement for their ideas and have been nominated by a State or Territory government agency. It allows you to stay in Australia for up to 4 years and 3 months with the possibility of applying for a permanent visa later.

To obtain this visa, you must be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency to engage in a complying entrepreneurial activity in Australia and provide them with a business plan for your entrepreneurial venture.

You must also meet the minimum competent English language proficiency requirement and the health and character requirements. The processing time for this visa may vary between 3 to 9 months, and the visa application fee is AUD 4,240. Additionally, you must comply with conditions 8515 and 8571 while holding this visa.

SC 888 Business innovation and Investment (Permanent visa)

This is a permanent residency visa available to holders of a four-year provisional subclass 188 visa who wish to maintain ownership and management of a business or investment activity in an Australian state or territory. To be eligible for this visa, you must hold a subclass 188 visa in the Business Innovation stream, or an SC 444 special category visa, or an SC 457 Business long-stay visa. The visa offers various streams, including:

Business Innovation Stream

To permanently reside in Australia, you must hold a SC 188 visa under the Business Innovation and Investment stream for at least 3 years (if invited after 1st Jul 2021) or a SC 457 or SC 444 visa. You must have been nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency and have an ongoing business in Australia with an annual turnover of at least AUD 300,000. You must also meet the assets and employee requirements.

Additionally, you must fulfill the minimum functional English language proficiency requirement, as well as health and character requirements. The processing time for this visa may vary from 23 to 29 months, and the visa application fee is AUD 3,025. This visa does not have any conditions attached to it.

Investor Stream

This visa allows you to permanently reside in Australia if you hold a SC 188 visa under the Significant Investor stream for at least 3 years (if you were invited to apply after 1st July 2021). You must have been nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency and have met the requirements for a “complying significant investment” of at least AUD 2.5 million and “designated investment” requirements. Additionally, you must meet residency and commitment requirements.

To be eligible for this visa, you must also meet the minimum requirement for functional English language proficiency and health and character requirements. The processing time may vary from 22 to 26 months, and the application fee is AUD 3,025. Condition 8515 must be complied with under this visa.

Significant Investor Stream

To permanently live in Australia, you must hold the SC 188 visa under the Business Innovation and Investment stream for at least 3 years (if invited to apply after July 1st, 2021). You need to be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency and must have fulfilled the complying significant investment requirement of AUD 5 million. In addition to this, you need to meet the residency and commitment requirements, as well as minimum functional English language proficiency, health, and character requirements. The processing time for this visa may range from 25 to 29 months, and the application fee is AUD 3,025. This visa has condition 8515 which must be complied with.

Entrepreneur Stream

To live permanently in Australia, you can apply for this visa. To be eligible, you must hold visa SC 188 under the Entrepreneur stream for 3 years if you were invited to apply after 1st Jul 2021 or SC 188 under the Business Innovation stream if applied before 1st Jul 2021. You must have been nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency and received an invitation to apply. In addition, you must provide a record of successful entrepreneurial activities and meet residency and commitment requirements.

You must also meet the minimum functional English language proficiency requirement, as well as health and character requirements. The processing time for this visa may vary from 20 to 27 months, and the application fee is AUD 3,025. You must comply with condition 8515 under this visa.

SC 132 Business Talent (Permanent visa)

The purpose of this visa is to allow you to permanently reside in Australia and establish or grow a business. To be eligible, you will need to meet the financial requirements for investment and assets. There are two sub-streams available under this visa: Significant Business History Stream and Venture Capital Entrepreneur Stream.

Significant Business History Stream

This visa enables individuals with ownership interests in large businesses to live permanently in Australia. To be eligible for this visa, you must have been nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency, have assets of at least AUD 1.5 million, and a business turnover of AUD 3 million. Additionally, you must be under 55 years of age and meet the minimum functional English language proficiency requirement as well as the health and character requirements. The processing time for this visa can range from 16 to 40 months, and the application fee is AUD 7,855. Complying with condition 8515 is mandatory under this visa.

Venture Capital Entrepreneur Stream

This visa allows individuals to permanently live in Australia if they have access to venture capital funding of at least AUD 1 million. To be eligible for this visa, you must have been nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency and meet the minimum functional English language proficiency, health, and character requirements. The processing time for this visa may vary from 15 to 40 months, and the application fee is AUD 7,855. Additionally, under this visa, you must comply with condition 8515.